Recommend Certain 2015 Parks Capital Improvements

↵On a annual basis, the Park and Recreation Commission makes recommendations to City Council for park and trail projects, based upon community need.  For 2015 there are 9 potential projects identified within the Capital Improvement Program, with a wide scope - ranging from grates to secure stormwater pipes at The Draw, to the playground for Elmcrest Park, to a shared trail project with the City of Anoka.  Three 2015 projects are ready to move forward for purchase, project development, and in one instance as a proposal for grant funding. These are listed below with the funding source and estimated project cost:
 

Selected 2015 Parks Capital Improvements

Monuments for The Draw and Elmcrest Park	Park Trust Fund	$80,000
Drinking Fountain with Pet Station and Mister for Woodland Green	Park Trust Fund	$7,000
Trail Connection - Trott Brook (Variolite St to Brookfield)	MN DNR & Park Trust Fund	$400,000

 Attached for your information is the larger, 2015 Parks Capital Improvement Plan.

As alluded to, staff is in various stages of project development for the nine park and trail related projects. For the three that are ready for Commission recommendation to City Council, the following is a summary of the work plan.

Monuments for The Draw and Elmcrest Park
The design work for the Kasota Stone monument for The Draw was completed in 2012, and is being investigated to 'upgrade' the proposed poster-type display panel element to an electronic display for advertising the concerts and other community events.  The intention would be to have the monument and sign in place for the beginning of The Draw Summer Event Series in June of 2015.  A proposed apartment building immediately south of the amphitheater is anticipated to move forward for approval and subsequent construction as soon as the spring of 2015.  The Park Dedication due for this project in essence would be directed to fund The Draw's monument that is estimated at this time (with electronic display) at $ 50,000.00.  Additionally, staff will investigate if there is any revenue opportunities (concert sponsorships as an example), associated with the display element of the park sign and monument for The Draw.

As for a monument/sign for Elmcrest Park, this design work may occur as part of the planning for the playground project to occur in March and April of 2015.

Drinking Fountain for Woodland Green Park
This small scale project is fairly straight-forward with the purchase of the components, with staff installation as time permits during the spring or early summer.

Trott Brook Trail Connection
As the Commission will recall, the recommendation to satisfy Park Dedication for the Brookfield 4th Addition, was to accept approximately $46,000 in cash, with the intention to construct a boardwalk connection from the existing trail in Brookfield to Variolite Street - if additional funding could be secured by a grant.  (Details are included in the Park and Recreation Commission's October 2013 case, on the city's website.)  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Local Trail Connections Program is accepting proposals in March 2015, for projects like the Trott Brook trail connection referenced herein.

The DNR competitive grant program matches 50% of project costs up to $150,000.  If staff can dedicate enough time to develop a proposal, the intention would be to receive City Council approval on March 24th to apply, and then submit the application before the deadline on March 31st.  Staff is in the process of developing the project's anticipated construction cost.  Estimates at this time are between $300,000 and $400,000.

Attached is the City's Priority Trail Map, with the project area circled with a dotted line.  Also attached is the proposed trail and boardwalk extension shown in a red and yellow dotted line in relation to the Brookfield plat.

 

Funding would be from Park Improvement Trust Fund, and potential grant funds as shown in the table above.

Staff recommends Commission concurrence with the work plan outlined above, and a recommendation to City Council on the three projects this case discusses.

Motion to recommend City Council approval of the Parks Capital Improvements consisting of the monuments for The Draw and Elmcrest Park, the drinking fountain for Woodland Green Park, and the Trott Brook Trail connection; consistent with 2015 CIP.